What did you do this summer? Maybe you went swimming! Swimming is super fun and great exercise for kids and grown-ups too! Swimming is good way to release for all that energy you build up through the day!
Lots of kids in Northwest Arkansas are learning to be safer in and around the water thanks to Goldfish Swim School! The swim school is new to the area and already making a splash in the community as they teach kids ages 4 months to 12 years old about water safety
Mark Fleming, one of the owners of Goldfish Swim School in Rogers, says learning to swim is important for all children. “There were 294 drownings in Arkansas alone from 2008-2019,” he says. “As we opened our doors in Rogers, we knew we wanted to work to lower the drowning rates by teaching children the skills they need to be safer in and around the water. And we’re doing it in a fun way! We use our proven curriculum and the Science of SwimPlay® to make learning these skills really fun for the kids.”
Swim lessons aren’t just about learning how to swim! They teach kids other things too. They help you learn patience and confidence and even help you make new friends, just to name a few!
Learning to swim is so important, because even though water can be exciting, it can also be dangerous. It’s really great to know what to do in case of an emergency and to play it safe around the water.
Here are some ways to do that:
- Make sure you get your parent’s permission to go into the water and that an adult is watching while you swim.
- Avoid swimming or boating in high running water, and make sure to always check conditions before starting.
- Never dive or jump into unfamiliar or shallow water. Be careful when diving into pools too. It’s easy for divers to hit their heads diving off a diving board or into water that’s too shallow.
- Obey barriers, such as markings for deeper ends in pools, fencing around pools and ropes in open waters.
- Don’t run around the sides of a pool, because the cement can get slippery when it’s wet and you could fall and get hurt.
- Always wear a life jacket when you are doing water sports like boating and jet skiing.
- Be careful when you use inflatable toys in the lake or pool. They can flip easily and also prevent someone from getting back up to the surface of the water.
- Swim only in public swimming areas that are protected by lifeguards.
- Stay away from drains in pools and spas, because parts of your body and hair can become trapped by the strong suction.
- Learn to be a better swimmer by taking swim lessons! The Red Cross says strong swimming skills can reduce the risk of drowning.
Are you a safe swimmer? Take the “I’m a Safe Swimmer” Pledge:
I pledge to never swim alone.
I pledge to never play or swim near drains or suction fittings.
I pledge to always dive feet first.
I pledge to obey the pool rules.